The iconic tree was one of just a few tunneled-through sequoias in California. The most famous was the Wawona Tree, in Yosemite National Park; it fell during a winter storm in 1969 at an estimated age of 2,100 years.

The most famous "drive-through" tree to fall in recent history was the Pioneer Cabin Tree, located in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California. This giant sequoia, estimated to be over 1,000 years old, was toppled during a massive winter storm on January 8, 2017. The tree was originally hollowed out in the 1880s to compete with the famous "Wawona Tree" in Yosemite (which itself fell in 1969). In its final years, the Pioneer Cabin Tree was only accessible to hikers as car traffic had been banned to protect its fragile root system. The combination of saturated soil from heavy rains and the structural weakness caused by the massive man-made tunnel led to its demise. While the tree's fall was a significant loss for California tourism, park officials in 2026 emphasize that the fallen trunk now serves as a vital part of the forest ecosystem, providing a "nurse log" for new growth and a habitat for local wildlife, while serving as a reminder of the ecological impact of early "curiosity" tourism.